Lots of kids have parents who live apart. You’re not the only one.
You get to choose who you tell, and when.
It can feel like everyone will look at you differently, or that your family is suddenly "broken". It isn’t. Families come in a lot of shapes, and plenty of the kids around you have been through this or are going through it right now.
You don’t owe anyone the full story. "My parents are separating" is a complete sentence. So is "I don’t really want to talk about it."
It can help to tell one or two people you trust, so you’re not hiding it everywhere.
Things that might help
- Pick one friend or adult who’ll keep it private, and tell just them.
- Practice a one-line answer for when someone asks, so you’re not caught off guard.
- Let a teacher or school counselor know, quietly. It helps them understand if you’re having an off day.
If you want to say it out loud
Not sure how to start? You could try:
“My parents are splitting up. I’m okay, I just didn’t want to keep it a secret from you.”
You could say it to a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a counselor, or someone on a free help line.
Things to tell yourself
- My family is changing. I am still me.
- Lots of kids have been here. I am not the only one.
- I get to choose who I tell, and when.